BLACKPOOL PRIDE FESTIVAL 2016

Following our fantastic launch party at Viva on Friday, and the tremendous success of 2015 with record numbers of over 13,000 people attending the event, Blackpool Pride Festival will return to Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens on Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th June 2016.  The event promises to be bigger and better fun for everyone with a larger number of main stage acts and bonus events happening to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of pride.

This year’s festival will kick off with our lively parade along Blackpool’s famous Promenade, from the Sandcastle Waterpark to St John’s Square. The parade will showcase the very best of the resorts LGBT community and friends.

The festival this year will play host to 5 stages all containing their own unique line up. We will see the return of the popular over 18’s area with acts including Queens of Pop, Lady Bears of Leeds, Crissy Kay, Toni Duvall, Chris D’Bray, Eva Iglesias, Miss D Q and hosted by our very own Tim James.

The women’s area with artists such as Jennifer Ball, Lara King, Maternal instinct Kim & Beth Markham, Sarah Keyworth, “The Dame” Caz Heyes, Jen Brister and hosted by comedian Kerry Leigh.

Radio Wave will again be hosting the outdoor stage in St John’s Square showing a vast array of local artists.

The Family stage, an area offering fun and family friendly entertainment all day to include Chubbz comedy magician, Lynda Law, George Dove, local dance troops and visits from your favourite TV characters.

Then of course the main stage in the Empress Ballroom this year will play homage to Dene Michael from Blacklace, Matt Fitzgerald, Joey Devries, The Divas, Allan Jay, Myth of Unity, District 12, S Club 7 and Reggie ‘n’ Bollie. All of those fantastic acts will be brought to you by our celebrity host Kieron Richardson aka Hollyoaks Ste Hay.

In addition to this there will be plenty of community events taking place which will encourage the whole resort to join in with the festivities.

For the first time ever and as part of Blackpool Pride Festival, we are introducing a night event The Climax, hosted by Freak Chic. All of Blackpool’s LGBT venues will come together for a weekend of fun and partying, which will help to raise funds and awareness of the festival.  As part of the fund raising events happening of the next few months we have our annual Pride Ball on 5th June. This year the ball is being held at the prestigious Tower Ball Room. As it is the 10^th anniversary of Blackpool Pride why not join us at our masquerade ball, with a full night of entertainment, 3 course meal and welcome drink all for just £35.

Shaun Pickup, Chairman of the event, comments, We want the whole town to come out and celebrate with us and have plans for a series of cultural and entertaining events across the resort, As well as a world record attempt”

For more information visit the Blackpool Pride Festival website at www.blackpoolpridefest.com and follow Blackpool Pride Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackpoolpridefest or Twitter www.twitter.com/bpoolpridefest